Clothing classification apparatus and clothing organizing apparatus including same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience when manually folding dried clothing into specific shapes, leading to a need for a robot device capable of organizing dried clothing efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A clothing classification apparatus with a dual-roller system, sensors, and a processor that induces an initial grip point on clothing, allowing it to be easily folded by rotating the rollers in different directions and using sensors to detect clothing location and adjust the folding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot device is introduced to automate clothing folding, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot device is divided into distinct functional modules: a classification unit with first and second rollers for separating clothing, a detection unit with sensors, and a folding unit. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, improving overall productivity while making the complex system more manageable and maintainable
Solution Approach 2:
The classification apparatus with dual rollers and sensors serves multiple functions: it classifies clothing by type, detects clothing position and movement, and prepares clothing for folding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If sensors and processing units are added to detect and classify clothing, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit continuously monitors clothing position and provides feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the roller operations accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate clothing classification and tracking throughout the folding process, improving manufacturing precision while using a relatively simple sensor-configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the clothing's own physical properties (weight, shape, size) as detected by the sensors to automatically classify and guide the folding process without requiring complex external intervention or manual programming for each clothing item
Data Source
AI summary
A clothing classification apparatus includes: a first roller; a second roller arranged to face the first roller; a driving device rotating the first and second rollers in different directions; sensors for sensing positions of clothes in each of the upper and lower areas of the first and second rollers; and a processor configured to control the driving device so that the clothes repeatedly move between the first and second rollers a predetermined number of times when the clothes are placed on the first and second rollers, and control the driving device to change the rotational directions of the first and second rollers when it is confirmed that the clothes pass through the upper or lower area on the basis of results of the sensing by the sensors.